The Empire Strikes Jackpot

ding. ding. ding.

Gots me a new tattoo by Ross Turpin. R2D2 Slot Machine... Session one went like a treat. Super talented man and you should all go and see him or Richard Phipson when you feel like getting some ink in ya. Can't wait to see some color in here...

In other exciting news - I got approved for my working holiday visa today. HAPPY news. So this means I am here for at least another year! Cool eh?

Tmrw is Miko's birthday and Friday we are practicing with a new band. Star Crossed fellas and Mike Jack and myself. SO EXCITED for that as well, just amazing stuff on the horizon.

Ross and Rich came from Durban, South Africa where they had a long running Hardcore band. They were widely accepted as being the longest running hardcore band in South Africa (according to Wikipedia). check them out here -----> CROSSING POINT

I need to Wii

I'm gona head out and pick this guy up pretty soon -

now a review: Lego Indiana Jones 2 - A solid game, I had so much fun playing this game. Lego never ceases to make fun games. I have never seen the crystal skull movie so I can't say for sure weather it is accurate or not, but I can tell you that the other adventures were pretty far off from the story line (unlike the star wars lego game which was pretty close to the movies). Regardless it's still mega fun and full of exploding lego characters, sizable maps. the vehicles were awesome as well.

Speedophiles

Live Fast Die! CD release party was this last friday. Was fun but had a very small turn out. I was pretty surprised by the lack of people... although there was a show down in central somewhere for the battle of the bands. Anyways, gots me a copy of the CD now...

Speedophiles

This album was recorded all over the place, namely Hidden Agenda (where the CD release party was held.)

It's pretty sweet cause in the CD insert there are some pictures which I have taken alot of.

Down to the quality of the CD itself now -

A 10 day job and the quality is really nice (I think).

Really has that grimy 'fuck the place up' punk raw rock they embody on stage.

Really well mixed and the art work look effing cool.

Good Job fellas!

Listen to a few of the tracks HERE

who's your daddy?

oh yeah...

here is the piece I did for the art jam... It's gonna be a gift!

Art Jam

What have I done this week you ask?

well.... Monday was a two year mark for Monica and I so we went to eat at a fancy restaurant on Ashley Road. La Taverna was the name of the place and it was delish! On wednesday we went to watch a fire dragon dance parade thing. It was mostly a waste of time and super boring. Monica started to feel really faint because of the heat and crowds and standing for so freaking long waiting for the dumbass dragon to come.

Yesterday however was quite good. We went to a friend's place in Tung Chung area (which was beautiful) and had a bit of an Art Jam. It's always nice to art jam and see what everyone comes up with.

art jam-o-rama

the view from the house

Zane's piece

After the jam session we headed over to The Wanch to watch Corey Tam and David Bowie Knives play a show.. despite a couple of unfriendly faces it was a win night!

Zane is now playing bass for Corey Tam.

I always find it funny how the majority of local bands here in Hong Kong are highly unoriginal and use waaay toooooo many pedals....

... Having said that, I still love to support Hong Kong's talent, as good or bad as they might be. There was this big douche at the Wanch who said in a very loud voice after a band finished a song "this is bullshit, i'm leaving" -what a dick. I know what it's like to get up in front of people and perform music that you have made and are proud of, it's not easy. So anyways I really like to try and support bands that play what they love in the city I am living in.

who watches the Watchmen?

.... I just did. The first time I saw the movie I was apparently the only one in the movie theatre to not see the big blue penis that was so prevalent in the film. Finally saw it this time around. YEAH!!!! big blue wiener!

Anyhow, this weekend was again full of fun...

Saturday: A surprise leaving party for a couple of my favorite people. Joe did a great job of putting it all together!

This was the lineup on Saturday-

Six Pack Of Wolves

Doing their thing. Playing some fun, fast catchy tunes.

This Is Ammunition

This is Joe (from Livefastdie) and his other band.

First time I heard them live and I really loved it. Music is slightly dated, but in a good way. The type of music they play is the stuff I listened to growing up and will always have a big place in my heart for it!

LiveFastDie

One of their last shows they will play. This was after Hungry ghosts played the song that had the lyrics "Take off your clothes..." which a lot of the men in the Wanch followed.

Sunday: About an hours hike from the Sha Tin Wai MTR station was a beautiful waterfall. A very surreal scenic experience in Hong Kong.

Bottom of the steps to the waterfall.

Nice clear spring water

There was a family there catching Japanese Fire Belly Salamanders.

Mother enjoying the waterfalls

Quote of the beer

One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm.
Here's how it went:

"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest one sat the back that are killed first This natural s election is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

Night of The Living Trekkies

Wish this was an actual movie!

Music and Moore

Just got back from a lunch date with dear Monica.

Found myself a couple of goodies. I really shouldn't be buying shit on my low monthly wages right now, but then again, I wanted this stuff... take that common sense!

First went to a second hand bookstore in Central and found a Yamaha JR1 Mini Folk Guitar for only $500. Had to purchase it. Its so little and cool. Really good condition as well!

They also had a couple of banjos (which I REALLY wanted) but the guy said they weren't for sale. I think that was bullshit and he just really couldn't be bothered to help me. I mean they were in a section with a bunch of guitars that all had price tags on them. Whatever, next time.

...Aslo they had a EFF-Load of amazing Vinyl if anyone collects records in Hong Kong.

Then we went to Flow, one of my favorite second hand bookshops in HK.

And I found some graphic novels by one of my absolute favorite writers, Alan Moore. They are amazing, I read one on the train ride home. So graphic and twisted. The artwork inside is so flipping awesome! There is some crazy detail in it.

MAGIC WORDS

ANOTHER SUBURBAN ROMANCE

this one is super rad, fucked-up to the max, but super rad!

Here is a page from the last book, not the best one, so many other better stories. Alas this is the only one I could find online.

Goodbye Seizures + A Very Hidden Agenda

This weekend was pretty crazy. First off was Ross and Julia's leaving party. Rockschool got pretty packed mostly with people that Ross and Julia didn't know. But it ended up being a gong show. With an open bar and a long line-up of great bands, it was a night to try to remember.

Moy returned from his long ass holiday in the Philippines with Oi Squad! Which I missed most of since they played last and I was too far gone.

LiveFastDie played a killer set. Mike Jack has become a full fledged member of the crew and I tell you it works well!

After they finished their set the 5-0 showed up and put a bit of a downer on the night. According to my friend Tiff, they cleared an entire table of underage kids.

There were a few solo acts -

Joey from Milkteeth played some tunes.

DP played a fantastic set. Always a powerfest!

DBK (David Bowie Knives) were on sexfire! This was one of the best sets I've seen them play and I had heaps of fun.

The next day I staggered over to Hidden Agenda. This was quite fun.. It is one of the most difficult venues to find. There is about a hundred streets in the area that have the word "yip" in them. I asked my buddy Nic what it meant he says something like industrial. Having said it was a hassle to find, it is a really awesome venue!

The bar which sold $20 Tsing Tao!

On top of the bar was three of my favorite things. Star Wars toy, Lord of the Rings toy and A Comic book toy.

HUNGRY GHOSTS

One of my favorite bands in Hong Kong and some of my very good friends. Paul Lam (pictured above) looks so fucking cool when he plays the ol' axe.

Mike Jack doing the Bang Bang Smash Clang.

The Lovesong

Glad I got to catch them before Ephraim leaves and The Lovesong disband.

!!!!!!

The last band (which were nothing short of boring and bland) were from Beijing. We didn't stay to watch their entire 'performance'.

They did have one redeeming factor... the use of a melodica.

Nerd Core

I've spent most of the morning surfing a site called www.geekytattoos.com (don't judge)

Here are some of my favs.

I want one.

super cool Labyrinth Tattoo

Best ear tattoo I've seen.

Also not on the page but pretty geeky and awesome is a tattoo Julia did on Ross just last week.

Larry David! Sorry I had to steal this one Julia.

Speaking of stupid tattoos (not that I was) but I will be going in tonight to get probably the dumbest tattoo I will ever get. Pictures to follow (maybe).

Grime Time

I am now the proud owner of a Julia Seizure original!

It's pretty big and now hanging in my room.

Thanks Julia!

Marvel 101

Groggified

They have started selling this in 711s around Hong Kong

Here is some legit pirate slang for beer according to my 'How to Speak Pirate' book.

Belch

Belly Vengeance

Bumclink

Brownstone

Cold Blood

English Burgundy

Gatter

Heavy-Wet

Knock-Me-Down

Nectar of Barley

Swizzle

There is also like a hundred words for whiskey, but that is for another time.

nice rack

Went to Racks a few days back to hang out with Ross and Julia while Star Crossed was tattooing. The two soon to be new owners of Star Crossed did all the tattooing that night. Racks was pretty lame, but we made it fun regardless. The event was a "Hell's Angels" theme night where the guys were meant to dress like bad-asses and the chicks were supposed to dress in sexy leather and chains. It ended up being a frat party where the guys all looked like douches and the girls all looked like russian prostitutes. anyways here are some pictures of Ross and Richard working.

This guy got a couple things done.

A cheesy viking!!!!

Mr. flex

small work station, but they managed fine

The best part of the night was hanging out with the south african boys afterwards.

We went to Tsui Wah to get some grub and they had NO RICE, also no noodles...

what country do we live in?

Richard and Joey (from MILKTEETH)